203. Betrayal
Betrayal
In a happier time, we would have been
together through each child’s birth,
as we had promised each other
all those years ago, our naivety stemming
from an immortality that had never known
war, destruction, pain.
Torn apart by this conflict,
we had missed so much of each other’s lives.
Perses and Pallas had still got to see each other
through the wars, but we had been kept apart
all this time. Goddesses and nymphs were forbidden
to leave our homes for we may be captured.
I smiled and kissed her cheek.
‘I hear her name is Hekate.
She must be just as extraordinary as you are.’
I did not ask where Hekate was. I knew.
Asteria had taken a great risk to see me.
If she had been seen, she would have been seized.
Asteria smiled back, but then her face dropped.
‘Styx, Perses says we will not win this war.
Since your father withdrew
the River Gods, our numbers have fallen.’
I was quiet. I knew these words well now.
So instead I listened.
‘And… and Perses told me today
that Pallas has… that you have—’
Her eyes filled with grief now.
‘Is it true that you have chosen
the side of the Olympians?’
I looked away, unable to meet her eye.
‘Asteria. We had to. Zelus…’
I gestured to her to follow and led her
into my chambers to show her
the still-healing body of my son.
She gasped, her hand moving
to her mouth in horror.
‘This palace has been full
of injured Gods just like him.
My brothers have borne the brunt
of this war,’ I said softly.
‘It’s their pain that convinced
my father to withdraw.’
Asteria’s hands trembled
as she touched my son’s forehead.
‘Have you given him—’
I nodded. ‘Yes, the potion we made.’
I smiled wryly. ‘It is working.’
She turned to me, her eyes wide.
‘We could use them, Styx,’
she said urgently, ‘Our powers.
Our skills. We could use them
the way Metis has helped
the Olympians.’
I frowned at her words.
‘We promised each other we wouldn’t,’
I reminded her. ‘And I do not think
I possess the same talent as Metis,
Asteria. She has powerful, stranger gifts.’
Asteria shook her head.
‘No, Styx, she just had practice.’
‘Do you know what both
the Titans and the Olympians
would do if they learned
what we can do, Asteria?’
I challenged her.
‘Styx, we must try,’ Asteria pleaded.
I stared at the sleeping form of my son,
then back at my dearest friend.
‘If you want to do what is best
for your infant daughter, Asteria,
do not do this. Do what you can
to protect your child.’
Asteria stepped back from me.
‘As you have done?’ she asked in pain.
‘By betraying your own?’
My eyes narrowed.
‘I did what I had to so
my children could be safe.’
The colour drained from her face.
‘Perses leads the Titan army,’
she said, grief lacing her words.
‘Does it not occur to you
that perhaps I cannot surrender?
That perhaps we do not have
the luxury of choice?’
I trembled with fury and guilt
at her words. ‘Do you think,’
I hissed at her, ‘that this was easy
for me? That I chose this lightly?’
Asteria glared at me now.
‘You got to choose, Styx.
This is what I mean.’
In my anger, I turned away
from her and said,
‘I did what I had to
for those I love.’
Asteria’s voice, soft and shaking,
was almost a whisper when she said,
‘Once, a long time ago,
you loved me too.’
My heart broke. I turned
to look at her, to answer,
but she was gone.